To provide an image forming apparatus that performs exposure suitable for highly productive image formation.
The image forming apparatus has: a plurality of sets for forming development images of different colors, each set having an image holder, exposure section, and developing section; an image data management section that captures exposure image data corresponding to one or more sets and inputs the data to the exposure sections of the corresponding sets. The image forming apparatus also includes a control section, which exerts control as described below. The image holder of a first set is switchable between a regular rotation mode and a high speed rotation mode. The exposure section of a second set is freely movable to an moving formation position in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image holder of the first set. In a mode for capturing exposure image data corresponding to only the first set, the image data management section inputs the exposure image data to the exposure sections of the first and second sets. In this case, the exposure section of the second set is moved to the moving formation position. While the image holder of the first set is rotated in a high speed rotation mode, the first and second exposure sections are caused to perform exposure, thereby forming one electrostatic latent image by means of double exposure.
SATO AKISADA
INOUE MICHIHIRO
Yoshio Kosugi